Three Times Hotter Than Bournemouth

In the late ’20s my grandparents, Lydia and Eric Fletcher, set sail for Kobe in Japan, where Eric’s employer, Dunlop, had opened a factory. Every week or so his brother George would send the papers out to Eric for him to check the sports results. In return, they would send postcards back to George, and his wife Ivy, in their home town of Birmingham, England.

Eric was a keen and adept sportsman. These were the days when a stocky five-foot-six man could lick all comers at tennis, and then take home their wages at cribbage. They were fans of West Bromwich Albion and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, and spoke of little else in these brief exchanges. Only the extreme heat got a word in edgeways.

There were letters too with no doubt more detailed accounts of life in Japan (my Auntie Marjorie was born in Japan during this time, as a reference to “the baby” indicates), but these postcards offer brief snapshots of the time with their jolly thankyous and asides on the latest score. The language is informal and fun. Ivy, a thin woman, is cheerfully addressed as “Fatty” in one card, and in another as a “slacker”. A posh time was had by all, and they remained in the pink.

The final postcard in the collection is dated 27 April 1931, but these cards – beautiful Japanese images on one side, jolly Brummie asides on the other – capture perfectly the odd and exquisite cultural juxtaposition that Eric and Lydia had embarked upon.

They returned from Japan in the early 1930’s and took up where they left off in Birmingham. They were both killed in a car accident in 1968, only months before I was born, so aside from a few rather grainy photos, these cards are all I have of them.

1928

Having a posh time

the first in the series

Having a posh time

This stinking place

This stinking placeThis stinking place

The quickest coaling station in the world

The quickest coaling station in the worldThe quickest coaling station in the world

Notice they have a good cricket pavilion

4

Notice they have a good cricket pavilion

How about Larwood 6 for 32

How about Larwood 6 for 32?How about Larwood 6 for 32

1929

We get that sometimes

We get that sometimes

We get that sometimes

I have no idea when your birthday is

I have no idea when your birthday isI have no idea when your birthday is

The cleverest bike riders in the world

The cleverest bike riders in the worldThe cleverest bike riders in the world

In the pink

In the pinkIn the pink

I’ll fix it with you

I'll fix it with you

I'll fix it with you

Four days earlier than I sometimes get it

Four days earlier than I sometimes get itFour days earlier than I sometimes get it

When do you get your medal

When do you get your medalWhen do you get your medal

All the news in mothers letter

All the news in mothers letterAll the news in mothers letter

I had two cups last night

I had two cups last nightI had two cups last night

I shall have a practice at tennis

I shall have a practice at tennis

I shall have a practice at tennis

The devil counting his dead uns

The devil counting his dead unsThe devil counting his dead uns

Three times hotter than Bournemouth

Three times hotter than BournemouthThree times hotter than Bournemouth

I drew August week

I drew August week

I drew August week

Have you booked for August yet?

Have you booked for August yet?Have you booked for August yet?

How about this Foster

How about this FosterHow about this Foster

You slacker

You slacker

You slacker

We are still alive

We are still alive

We are still alive

Did you dream it

Did you dream it

Did you dream it

Get a postcard album

Get a postcard album

Get a postcard album

I am nearly a spot of grease

I am nearly a spot of grease

I am nearly a spot of grease

Sea breezes

Sea breezes

Sea breezes

Now this trouble is on in China

Now this trouble is on in China

Now this trouble is on in China

A safe if slow way

A safe if slow wayA safe if slow way

On the beach every day as well as you

On the beach every day as well as youOn the beach every day as well as you

I had Manchester C. in the sweep

I had Manchester C. in the sweepI had Manchester C. in the sweep

It’s O.K. Via Siberia

It's O.K. Via SiberiaIt's O.K. Via Siberia

All the post this end is upside down

All the post this end is upside downAll the post this end is upside down

Just off to work

Just off to workJust off to work

We expect very nice weather now

We expect very nice weather nowWe expect very nice weather now

Raining like hell

Raining like hellRaining like hell

One way + another

One way + anotherOne way + another

The stocking trade

The stocking tradeThe stocking trade

A good licking

A good lickingA good licking

Sunday is no different

Sunday is no differentSunday is no different

Whats up with the Albion?

Whats up with the Albion?Whats up with the Albion?

I won first prize

I won first prizeI won first prize

A jolly good time

A jolly good timeA jolly good time

1930

Going to the dogs

Going to the dogsGoing to the dogs

Villa in the sweep

Villa in the sweepVilla in the sweep

I shall try hard to keep the cup

I shall try hard to keep the cupI shall try hard to keep the cup

You can buy everything there

You can buy everything thereYou can buy everything there

Wishing you a happy birthday

Wishing you a happy birthdayWishing you a happy birthday

Many many happy returns

Many many happy returnsMany many happy returns

I am minus forty

I am minus fortyI am minus forty

Something like the place

Something like the placeSomething like the place

Won another cup today

Won another cup todayWon another cup today

Our thin suits

Our thin suitsOur thin suits

They will go dud again

They will go dud againThey will go dud again

How about Bradman?

How about Bradman?How about Bradman?

Hot as hell

Hot as hellHot as hell

We had a typhoon

We had a typhoonWe had a typhoon

The baby

The babyThe baby

Lets hope he manages to win

Lets hope he manages to winLets hope he manages to win

Do you see them much now?

Do you see them much now?Do you see them much now?

Rather busy now

Rather busy nowRather busy now

Struggling up

Struggling upStruggling up

A little present inside

A little present insideA little present inside

A Country Club photo

A Country Club photoA Country Club photo

1931

Albion are doing well

Albion are doing wellAlbion are doing well

Blinded by the sun

Blinded by the sunBlinded by the sun

Lucky to draw eh!

Lucky to draw eh!Lucky to draw eh!

Sunburnt today playing tennis

Sunburnt today playing tennisSunburnt today playing tennis

Are you going to Wembley?

Are you going to Wembley?Are you going to Wembley?

We are all in the pink out here

We are all in the pink out hereWe are all in the pink out here

We have had the cup final result

We have had the cup final resultWe have had the cup final result

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